Help me decide

[Valley Girl of VA]

I love HAL for many reasons but one of them is their great participatory Piano Bar. I had a cruise booked with them for South America that was just cancelled. I'm now finding myself having to decide between Princess and Celebrity for the itinerary that I want.

 

The two times that I have been on Celebrity the piano bar was more for listening and a little stuffy. No rocking and rolling, no sing-a-longs, no guessing games, etc.

 

I have only cruised Princess once and that was too long ago to count. Don't know if they have a Piano Bar or not or what it is like.

 

So, since that is important to me - which would you choose? The ship I am looking at is the Emerald for 2018.

 

I am also posting this on the Celebrity thread. Thanks for taking the time to read it and reply.

 

Jane

[Colo Cruiser]

I love HAL for many reasons but one of them is their great participatory Piano Bar. I had a cruise booked with them for South America that was just cancelled. I'm now finding myself having to decide between Princess and Celebrity for the itinerary that I want.

 

The two times that I have been on Celebrity the piano bar was more for listening and a little stuffy. No rocking and rolling, no sing-a-longs, no guessing games, etc.

 

I have only cruised Princess once and that was too long ago to count. Don't know if they have a Piano Bar or not or what it is like.

 

So, since that is important to me - which would you choose? The ship I am looking at is the Emerald for 2018.

 

I am also posting this on the Celebrity thread. Thanks for taking the time to read it and reply.

 

Jane

 

 

On the Emerald it would be Crooners and Adagio.

[memoak]

It really depends on the piano player - some like to do sing a longs but many prefer to just perform themselves. I would say most are performing on their own without audience participation. Crooners almost always has someone on piano and on the Pacific the piano is found in the casino bar.

[skynight]

If you define a piano bar as one where a dozen or so passengers sit around the perimeter of the piano close to the piano player, then there is no piano bar on the any Princess ship.

Every Princess ship has a Crooner's Lounge which will be on deck 7 mid ship. There is a piano entertainer, that plays and sings. Some are better than others. Some are way better than others. Some get such large crowds that they have to bring in extra folding chairs. Some are not so good. The entertainers sing pop songs, show tunes, standards, have name that tune quizzes, sing-a-longs. They all have their individual style. On the Emerald the Crooner's piano entertainment begins at 9pm. There is usually one evening when the entertainer puts on more of a show in Explorer's Lounge. This past June on the Emerald it was a sing-a-long with those old standards. Everyone got song sheets.

Crooner's is just one on the live music venues on the Emerald. There is also live music each evening in Explorer's Lounge, Club Fusion, Wheelhouse Bar, and in the Piazza (atrium). There is always live music from classical to rock on the ship in more than one location to choose from.

[WupperAV]

Double

Edited August 15, 2016 by WupperAV

[WupperAV]

Crown tickets for Valpraiso to Rio for Christmas 14 day went on sale for $1400, balcony, 2 adults. Come with us and you can sing the National Anthem of Argentina off the bow in Punta Arenas Christmas Day. You can always ask the Cruise director for a sing-along. May think it's a good idea but after hearing you sing may decide diplomatically to not!:D BTW? We are in Loudoun County Va

Edited August 15, 2016 by WupperAV

[Valley Girl of VA]

Crown tickets for Valpraiso to Rio for Christmas 14 day went on sale for $1400, balcony, 2 adults. Come with us and you can sing the National Anthem of Argentina off the bow in Punta Arenas Christmas Day. You can always ask the Cruise director for a sing-along. May think it's a good idea but after hearing you sing may decide diplomatically to not!:D BTW? We are in Loudoun County Va

 

Hey Wupper AV - we spent 26 years in Loudoun and moved out in 2008 down to the Valley. Our kids went all the way through school in Loudoun and all graduated from Park View - small world. I go up there frequently to see friends.

 

We have other friends who want to go with us (some from Loudoun as well) and we get group rates. Not sure if any of them would want to go away for Christmas though.

 

I sing with exuberantly with lots of energy and enthusiasm but of key :(

 

 

Jane

[Lucky TGO]

Just flip a coin :eek: Your likes and dislikes may be different than mine.

Tony

[OCruisers]

If you pick the Princess cruise, Crooner's would be the bar with a piano entertainer that you would enjoy! :)

[dreaminofcruisin]

If it's about the singing and not only the piano bar....there is the Princess Pop Choir on many ships...I don't know much about it other than it exists, but sounds like something you might enjoy? :)

[easyboy]

The two times that I have been on Celebrity the piano bar was more for listening and a little stuffy. No rocking and rolling, no sing-a-longs, no guessing games, etc.

 

So, since that is important to me - which would you choose? The ship I am looking at is the Emerald for 2018.

There are guests who jams with the pianist at Crooner's Bar. Those in groups usually have the most fun.

[Ando]

Having cruised multiple times with both lines I would suggest Princess as generally the better choice in that regard, however like others have posted, it does come down to the individual entertainer.

 

I recall one cruise on Diamond Princess where the guy was so interactive and popular, it was standing room only each night. People were getting there hours before he started playing to secure a seat!

Edited August 16, 2016 by Ando

[alfieisgod]

On most Princess ships the Crooner's lounge is in a well travelled area on Promenade deck - with passengers going through Crooner's to go between the other entertainment venues.

 

When the piano player is good and interacting with the crowd, many of those passing through will stop and enjoy the show (and add to the energy).

 

When he is not - he (not being sexist - I just haven't seen a female piano bar player in my 15 cruises) might be lucky to get a polite nod from the passengers.

 

It takes real skill for the piano player to get (and keep) the crowd engaged.

 

Don

 

ps - a friend of mine is a piano bar performer on HAL. I've seen a few of his onboard videos - and he seems to put on a lively show!

[Lucky TGO]

On most Princess ships the Crooner's lounge is in a well travelled area on Promenade deck - with passengers going through Crooner's to go between the other entertainment venues.

 

When the piano player is good and interacting with the crowd, many of those passing through will stop and enjoy the show (and add to the energy).

 

When he is not - he (not being sexist - I just haven't seen a female piano bar player in my 15 cruises) might be lucky to get a polite nod from the passengers.

 

It takes real skill for the piano player to get (and keep) the crowd engaged.

 

Don

 

 

ps - a friend of mine is a piano bar performer on HAL. I've seen a few of his onboard videos - and he seems to put on a lively show!

 

I have been lucky to see one of the best his name is Bert Stratton. Most people walking by stop and stay for the entire show. The next day your lucky to get a seat at his show.

Tony

[Valley Girl of VA]

Well, we have decided and it is Princess. We will be on the Emerald. Now, since I am a newbie on Princess, what do you like best about it! Restaurants we shouldn't miss, activities which you enjoy? Fill me in. Thank you

 

Jane

Edited August 18, 2016 by Valley Girl of VA

[ar1950]

I have been lucky to see one of the best his name is Bert Stratton. Most people walking by stop and stay for the entire show. The next day your lucky to get a seat at his show.

Tony

 

We were fortunate enough to be on one cruise that he was on. SRO every night. Hope to see him again.